Edward Menkin, lawyer for Dr. M. Robert Neulander, who was arraigned Monday on second-degree murder and evidence tampering charges, says the indictment against his client "appears to be an entirely circumstantial case."

Menkin said the Onondaga County District Attorney's office has been investigating this case for almost two years.

"While I obviously am not privy to everything the district attorney knows or
thinks he knows, I do know there is no confession, no admission, and no eyewitness to what this indictment claims,'' Menkin said.

Menkin said in his opinion the case is "not much more than a dark guess."

The suggestion that Neulander committed this crime "is literally inconceivable to the many people who know him and know of him." Menkin said.

Menkin, who has represented Neulander all along, said his client is a "prominent community member who has delivered more than 10,000 babies" in his career. He is not currently practicing, Menkin said.

Leslie Neulander

He also said Neulander has "devoted himself to good works and charitable
causes," working as a food pantry volunteer. and supported the efforts of Vera House. He also founded Women's Outreach, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation which provided healthcare needs and coverage for his patients who were uninsured or had
inadequate insurance coverage, Menkin said.

Neulander and his family traveled to New Orleans as part of Operation Southern Comfort to help rebuild homes after Hurricane Katrina, and he also assisted flood victims in Oneida County, Menkin said.

Menkin said he's known of the DA's intention to indict Neulander since February 2013, and Neulander has made himself available to the DA when requested. At one point, he traveled out of the country and returned in the midst of the investigation.

Neulander, 62, appeared in court Monday with his brother, also a physician in this community, Menkin said.

His four adult children also were in court. Menkin said they traveled from Baltimore, Brooklyn, and Israel to be in court to support him. Also present was Leslie Neulander's sister Joanne, who Menkin said came from Long Island to support her brother-in-law.

Menkin also took issue with Fitzpatrick's comment at the news conference that no one was representing Leslie Neulander's interests other than the DA's office and witnesses.

Menkin said because he's known Fitzpatrick for many years he knows the DA didn't intend for that statement to come out the way it sounded.

"That statement was incredibly hurtful and insulting to Leslie Neulander's children and her sister,'' Menkin said. "I'm disappointed he said that."